Cable grip grapple

ABSTRACT

A grapple for handling logs embodying a pair of pivotally interconnected jaws which are power opened by a cable arrangement. The grapple includes as its novel improvement, the incorporation of a log gripping cable which extends between the jaws and engages a log or logs in opposed relation to the gripping components of the jaws.

United States Patent 1191 Mitchell CABLE GRIP GRAPPLE [76] Inventor:John R. Mitchell, 1005 N.

Broadway, Aberdeen, Wash. 98420 221 Filed: Mar. 13, 1972 21 Appl. 190.;233,926

[52] US. Cl. 294/112, 294/111 [51] Int. Cl. B66c 1/10 [58] Field ofSearch 294/106, 111, 112, 294/118; 37/183 R, 184, 185, 187; 212/81, 84,89

[56] References Cited I UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,690,716 9/1972J0hnson.... 294/111 3,245,712 4/1966 Mitchell 294/112 1451 Jilly 17,1973 2,279,570 4/1942 Kamppi 294/112 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS1,500,906 10/1967 France 294/112 Primary Examiner- Evon C. BlunkAssistant Examiner-Johnny D, Cherry AttorneyHarvey B. Jacobson [57]ABSTRACT A grapple for handling logs embodying a pair of pivotallyinterconnected jaws which are power opened by a cable arrangement. Thegrapple includes as its novel improvement, the incorporation ofa loggripping cable which extends between the jaws and engages a log or logsin opposed relation to the gripping components of the jaws.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures I PATENTEUJUH mu 3.746.385

SHEU 1 1F 2 CABLE GRIP GRAPPLE BACKGROUND OF TI-IEINVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention The present invention generally relates to a grapple foruse in handling logs and more particularly relates to a grapple having agripping cable oriented thereon in a manner to retentatively engage theupper surface of a log or logs generally in opposed relation to thegripping engagement of the grapple jawswith the log or logs.

2. Description of the Prior Art Power operated grapples are usedextensively in the logging industry to facilitate the handling of logsduring various operations such as skidding, yarding or loading. One typeof grapple that has been used extensively in the industry is disclosedin .prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,245,712 issued Apr. 12, 1966. While thisgrapple is effective in use, conditions sometimes exist in which it isdesirable to more effectively clamp the log or logs being handled. Forexample, when the grappleis used to grip a plurality of logs or when thebark on the log or logs is slipping or when trash or small limbs areencompassed by the grapple along with the log or logs, there is apossibility that the log or logs will slip in relation to the grapplejaws which creates an undesirable if not hazardous conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE'INVENTIQN An object of the present invention is toprovide a grapple that incorporates a gripping cable extending betweenthe jaws of the grapple inwardly of the gripping areas of the jaws forengagement with the surface of a log or logs in opposed relation to thegripping engagement between the jaws and the log or logs therebyenhancing the ability of the grapple to effectively hold and gripmultiple logs and also hold logs effectively when the bark is slippingand also prevent logs from slipping out of the jaws when trash or limbsencompass the logs or encompassed by the jaws when the logs are beinggripped sothat the logs may be effectively skidded, yarded or loaded.

A further object, of the invention is to provide a grapple with agripping cable which enhances the operation of the grapple due toimproved spotting and hooking of multiple pieces or logs as well as asingle log and has virtually eliminated slipping or dropping of the logsfrom the grapple during the, yarding or skidding of logs and theimproved grapple may be employed with various types of apparatus such asgrapple yarding cranes, crawler tractors, rubber tired skidders and thelike all of which are presently employed in the logging indusltillanother object of the invention is to provide a cable grip grapple inwhich the gripping cable extends between the jaws of the grappleinwardly of the gripping ends thereof and is associated with the grapplelinkage in a manner to effectively grip a single log or a turn of logswhen the grapple jaws are grippingly engaged with the log or logs.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts through-out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of thecable grip grapple of the present invention on a reduced scale.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the grapple.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the grapple with the jaws spaced fromeach other illustrating the position of the gripping cable when thegrapple is open.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the grapple in use illustrating thecable grip in engagement with the logs being carried by the grapple.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view illustrating the manner in which the end ofthe opening cable is anchored to the grapple.

FIG. 6 is a detailed sectional view of the pivotal connection betweenthe jaws and] the pulley sheave mounted thereon receiving the openingcable.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view illustrating the manner in which one end ofthe gripping cable is detachably connected to one of the jaws of thegrapple.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now specifically tothe drawings, the nu meral 10 generally designates a grapple adapted forvarious uses in the logging industry and adapted to be supported 'by asupporting member 12 including a swivel 14 if desired. The grapple 10includes a pair of pivotally interconnected jaws l6 and 18 which crosseach other and are pivotally interconnected to each other by a pivotshaft or pin 20 having a head 22 on one end and a retaining nut 24 onthe other end secured in place by a through bolt or pin 25. The two jawsl6 and 18 include upper end portions 26 and 28 above the pivot shaft 20and lower and inwardly curved gripping portions 30 and 32 which haveconcave facing edges 34 and 36 for receiving a log or a plurality oflogs 38. The inner surface of the lower portions 30 and 32 of the jawsl6 and 18 are each provided with inwardly extending teeth 40 forgrippingly engaging the logs 38. A rotatable pulley 44 is mounted on theshaft 20 between the jaws l6 and 18 and receivesan opening cable 46therearound. A spacer strip 48 is mounted along an edge portion of thejaw 18 to retain the jaws 16 and I8 in parallel relation during theirpivotal movement about the pivot shaft 20 and to retain the cable 46 inthe groove in the pulley 44 as shown in FIG. 6. 'Also, the jaw 18 isprovided with a stop lug 50 on the inner surface thereof to limit themovement of the jaws l6 and 18 toward each other when the jaws l6 and 18are closed without gripping a log.

The upper end portion 26 of the jaw 16 is provided with a pair ofparallel links 52 that are rigidly interconnected by a top plate 54 withthe links 52 being pivotally connected to the jaw 16 by a pivot boltassembly 56. Correspondingly, the upper end portion 28 of the jaw 18 isconnected to a pair of parallel rigidly associated links 58 rigidlyinterconnected by a top plate 60 pivotally connected to the jaw 18 by apivot bolt assembly 62. The upper ends of the links 52 and 58 arepivotally interconnected by a pivot bolt assembly 64 with the portion ofthe pivot bolt assembly 64 between the links SZand 58 providing spacefor connection with a supporting structure such as a swivel link or anyother suitable supporting device.

Also, the links 58 have a pivotal cable guide 66 mounted thereon forreceiving the cable 46 as it extends upwardly to an actuating device bywhich the grapple may be power opened. The cable 46 extends down throughthe pivotal guide 66 under the pulley 44 and then back up and around atransversely extending rounded member 68 interconnecting the links 52 atthe inner edge of the plate 54. The cable 46 then extends through atapered socket 96 on the plate 54. A wedgeshaped anchor 98 is receivedin the socket 96 and the terminal end of cable 46 extends around theanchor 98 in the manner shown in FIG. 5 which securely anchors the endof the cable 46 to the plate 54. With this construction, tension exertedon the cable 46 will force the pivot bolt assembly 64 and the pivotshaft or pivot pin toward each other thus power opening the grapple.When the cable 46 is slackened and the grapple is supported from thepivot bolt 64, the pivot shaft 20 between the jaws 16 and 18 will moveaway from the axis of the bolt 64 thus causing the jaws to grippinglyengage a log or logs 38.

A log gripping cable 74 is mounted on the grapple 1 and extends betweenthe jaws l6 and 18 and includes a dead end ferrule 76 on one end thereofengaging the outer surface of a pivotal or swing-away dead end plate 78which is generally semi-circular in configuration and provided with anotch 80 in one edge thereof. One corner of the plate 80 is pivotallyattached to a bracket 82 rigidly connected to the inner surface of thelower portion 30 of the jaw 16. The bracket 82 is provided with anaperture 84 larger than the ferrule 76 with the notch 80 being of lesscross-sectional dimension than the diameter of the ferrule 76. Thus, byinserting the ferrule 76 through the aperture 84 and swinging the plate78 inwardly so that the notch 80 engages the cable inwardly of theferrule 76, the cable 74 will be anchored to the jaw 16. As illustrated,the plate 78 is pivoted by a pivot bolt 86 and matching detents 88 areprovided for releasably retaining the plate 78 in assembled relationalongside of the bracket 82 or a removable fastening bolt or othersuitable fastening device may be employed for releasably securing theretaining plate 78 in position.

The cable 74 extends between the jaws 16 and 18 and is entrained over apulley 90 supported on the inner surface of the jaw 18 by a supportingshaft 92 and a housing 94. The cable 74 then extends upwardly andalongside of the upper end. portion 26 of the jaw 16 and then alongsideof the opening cable 46 where it passes around the roundedinterconnecting member 68 between the links 52. The cable 74 thenextends in overlying relation to the top plate 54 and through a socket70 mounted rigidly thereon. The terminal end of the cable 74 has a deadend ferrule 72 thereon engaging socket 70 thus anchoring the other endof cable 74 to the plate 7 54.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the gripping cable 74 engages the uppersurface of thelogs 38 when the jaws l6 and 18 are in gripping engagementwith the logs thus serving to more effectively grip the logs inasmuch asthe gripping force exerted by the cable 74 is in opposed relation to thegripping area of engagement between the inwardly extending lower endportions 30 and 32 of the jaws. The gripping cable 74 is effectiveregardless'of whether a single log, multiple logs or small limbs, trashand the like are being handled by the grapple. The gripping cable willmaterially increase the capability of holding logs when the bark on thelogs slips and also will prevent the logs from slipping out of the jawswhen trash or limbs encompass the logs which are being skidded, yardedor loaded. Due to the particular relationship of the gripping cable, itwill effectively grip a turn of logs when the grapple is spotted orhooked onto a log or turn of logs and the grapple jaws closed byvertical movement of the grapple regardless of whether the grapple isassociated with a yarding crane, crawler tractor, skidder or the like.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modi-fications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a grapple having a pair of pivotally interconnected gripping jaws,a flexible member extending between said jaws inwardly of the free endsthereof for supplemental gripping engagement with material being grippedbetween the jaws, means anchoring spaced portions of the flexible memberto one of the jaws, the length of said flexible member between theanchor means being substantially non-extendable, means movablyconnecting the portion of the flexible member between the anchor meansto the other jaw in a manner whereby the flexible member will besubstantially taut when the jaws are fully open.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible member is acable, one end of said cable being anchored to said one jaw fordetachable connection therewith.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means connecting theflexible member to the other jaw includes a sheave rotatably supportedon said other jaw, said flexible member being a cable entrained oversaid sheave, and means retaining the cable on the sheave during movementof the jaws.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said anchor meansincludes means detachably connecting one end of the cable to said onejaw, said detachable connecting means and said sheave beingsubstantially equally spaced inwardly from the free ends of the jaws.

5. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said one end of the cableincludes an enlargement, said means detachably connecting one end of thecable to said one jaw including a bracket rigidly mounted on the jaw,said bracket having an aperture therein of a size to permit movement ofthe enlargement there-through, a retainer plate movably connected to thebracket and having slot means therein extending laterally from theperipheral edge thereof, said slot means receiving said cable adjacentthe enlargement and being of less size than the enlargement therebypreventing the enlargement from passing through the bracket when theslot means is in registry with the aperture in the bracket.

6. In combination, a grapple comprising a pair of crossed and pivotallyinterconnected jaws having intumed' gripping ends, the other end of eachjaw having means providing for support of the grapple, means associatedwith the pivotal connection between the jaws to vary the relativeposition between the pivotal connection between the jaws and the meansproviding for support of the grapple to vary the pivotal relationship ofthe jaws, and a fixed-length flexible member extending between the jawsinwardly of the gripping ends bracket means releasably securing one endof said cable to one of said jaws, means securing the other end of thecable to the same jaw adjacent the other end thereof, and cable guidemeans mounted on the other of said jaws and movably connecting the cablethereto.

8. The structure as defined in claim 7 wherein said cable guide meansincludes a rotatable pulley sheave, said pulley sheave and bracket beingsubstantially in alignment.

9. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said means providingsupport for the grapple including a pair of links with one end of eachlink being pivotally connected to the other end of each jaw and theother ends of said links being pivotally interconnected in substantiallyvertical alignment with the pivotal connection between the jaws, saidfixed-length flexible member having one end thereof anchored to one ofsaid jaws between the pivotal connection between the jaws and thegripping end thereof, the other end of said flexible member beinganchored to the link pivotally connected to the other end of the samejaw in a manner whereby the two ends of the flexible member are longi'tudinally immovable in relation to the jaw and link connected thereto,said flexible member having a free in tennediate portion, the other ofsaid jaws including means thereon receiving the intermediate portion ofthe flexible member, said means being disposed between the pivotalconnection between the jaws and the gripping end of the other jawwhereby movement of the gripping ends of the jaws away from each otherwill tighten the fixed-length flexible member so that the portionthereof interconnecting the jaws between the pivotal interconnection andthe gripping ends will be substantially straight and taut when the jawsare fully opened.

10. The structure as defined in claim 9 wherein said means on the otherjaw engaging the intermediate portion of the flexible member including arotatable pulley over which the intermediate portion of the flexiblemember is entrained, means retaining the flexible member on the pulleywhen the flexible member is not taut, said means anchoring the end ofthe flexible member to the jaw between the pivotal interconnectionbetween the jaws and the gripping end thereof including means enablingdetachable connection of the flexible member to the jaw.

1. In a grapple having a pair of pivotally interconnected gripping jaws,a flexible member extending between said jaws inwardly of the free endsthereof for supplemental gripping engagement with material being grippedbetween the jaws, means anchoring spaced portions of the flexible memberto one of the jaws, the length of said flexible member between theanchor means being substantially non-extendable, means movablyconnecting the portion of the flexible member between the anchor meansto the other jaw in a manner whereby the flexible member will besubstantially taut when the jaws are fully open.
 2. The structure asdefined in claim 1 wherein said flexible member is a cable, one end ofsaid cable being anchored to said one jaw for detachable connectiontherewith.
 3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said meansconnecting the flexible member to the other jaw includes a sheaverotatably supported on said other jaw, said flexible member being acable entrained over said sheave, and means retaining the cable on thesheave during movement of the jaws.
 4. The structure as defined in claim3 wherein said anchor means includes means detachably connecting one endof the cable to said one jaw, said detachable connecting means and saidsheave being substantially equally spaced inwardly from the free ends ofthe jaws.
 5. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said one end ofthe cable includes an enlargement, said means detachably connecting oneend of the cable to said one jaw including a bracket rigidly mounted onthe jaw, said bracket having an aperture therein of a size to permitmovement of the enlargement there-through, a retainer plate movablyconnected to the bracket and having slot means therein extendinglaterally from the peripheral edge thereof, said slot means receivingsaid cable adjacent the enlargement and being of less size than theenlargement thereby preventing the enlargement from passing through thebracket when the slot means is in registry with the aperture in thebracket.
 6. In combination, a grapple comprising a pair of crossed andpivotally interconnected jaws having inturned gripping ends, the otherend of each jaw having means providing for support of the grapple, meansassociated with the pivotal connection between the jaws to vary therelative position between the pivotal connection between the jaws andthe means providing for support of the grapple to vary the pivotalrelationship of the jaws, and a fixed-length flexible member extendingbetween the jaws inwardly of the gripping ends thereof for grippingengagement with surface portions of an article or articles insupplemental relation to the gripping engagement between the inturnedgripping ends of the jaws and the article or articles.
 7. The structureas defined in claim 6 wherein said flexible member is a cable ofpredetermined length, bracket means releasably securing one end of saidcable to one of said jaws, means securing the other end of the cable tothe same jaw adjacent the other end thereof, and cable guide meansmounted on the other of said jaws and movably connecting the cablethereto.
 8. The structure as defined in claim 7 wherein said cable guidemeans includes a rotatable pulley sheave, said pulley sheave and bracketbeing substantially in alignment.
 9. The structure as defined in claim 6wherein said means providing support for the grapple including a pair oflinks with one end of each link being pivotally connected to the otherend of each jaw and the other ends of said links being pivotallyinterconnected in substantially vertical alignment with the pivotalconnection between the jaws, said fixed-length flexible member havingone end thereof anchored to one of said jaws between the pivotalconnection between the jaws and the gripping end thereof, the other endof said flexible member being anchored to the link pivotally connectedto the other end of the same jaw in a manner whereby the two ends of theflexible member are longitudinally immovable in relation to the jaw andlink connected thereto, said flexible member having a free intermediateportion, the other of said jaws including means thereon receiving theintermediate portion of the flexible member, said means being disposedbetween the pivotal connection between the jaws and the gripping end ofthe other jaw whereby movement of the gripping ends of the jaws awayfrom each other will tighten the fixed-length flexible member so thatthe portion thereof interconnecting the jaws between the pivotalinterconnection and the gripping ends will be substantially straight andtaut when the jaws are fully opened.
 10. The structure as defined inclaim 9 wherein said means on the other jaw engaging the intermediateportion of the flexible member including a rotatable pulley over whichthe intermediate portion of the flexible member is entrained, meansretaining the flexible member on the pulley when the flexible member isnot taut, said means anchoring the end of the flexible member to the jawbetween the pivotal interconnection between the jaws and the grippingend thereof including means enabling detachable connection of theflexible member to the jaw.